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  <title>Guide - The Anglo-Saxon Penitentials: A cultural database</title>
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     <div id="header"><h2 style="margin-right: 1.5em;">Guide to using <span
style="font-style: italic;">The Anglo-Saxon Penitentials</span></h2></div>
     <div id="text">
<font face="arial" size="+1">

       <h3 style="font-size: 20pt; color: #626C9B; font-weight: bold; position: relative; top: -1em; letter-spacing: .10em; width: 100%; border-bottom: double 3px #626C9B; ">Using this page</h3>
<p>
Users often skip guides like this and jump into the program, so information about TEXTS, MANUSCRIPTS, and the TAGGING SYSTEM is given first. Following it you will find information about the options offered by the menu in the blue box to your left.
</p>
<br/>       <h3 style="font-size: 20pt; color: #626C9B; font-weight: bold; position: relative; top: -1em; letter-spacing: .10em; width: 100%; border-bottom: double 3px #626C9B; ">The texts</h3>

There are five Anglo-Saxon penitentials: 
</p><dir>
the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Old English Introduction</span>;<br/>
the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Scriftboc</span> (known to earlier editors as the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Confessionale Pseudo-Egberti</span>);<br/> 
the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Canons of Theodore</span>;<br/>
the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Old English Penitential</span> (known to earlier editors as the
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Poenitentiali
Pseudo-Ecgberti</span>); and <br/>
the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Old English Handbook</span>.</dir>
The first one listed describes a ritual for confession; the other four are tariff manuals that list sins and the penances prescribed for them (the "tariff" is the penance assigned to each sin).</p>
<p>
Each text has been divided into canons, which are individual sentences or parts of sentences. The canons in each text have been given red numerical tags that identify both the text and individual canons:<dir><table>
<table border="1">
<tr bgcolor="ffffcc">
<td><font face="arial" color="black" size="+1"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Number &nbsp;</span> </td><td><font face="arial" color="black" size="+1"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Text</span></td><td><font face="arial" color="red" size="+1">Canons in this text go from &nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><font face="arial" color="red" size="+1">01-27</td>
<td><font face="arial" size="+1"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scriftboc</span></td><td><font face="arial" color="red" size="+1">01.01.00 to 27.02.01</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="ffffcc">
<td><font face="arial" color="red" size="+1">30-31</td>
<td><font face="arial" size="+1"><span style="font-weight: bold;">OE Introduction</span></td><td><font face="arial" color="red" size="+1">30.01.00 to 34.12.91</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><font face="arial" color="red" size="+1">40-44</td>
<td><font face="arial" size="+1"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">OE Penitential</span></td><td><font face="arial" color="red" size="+1">40.01.00 to 44.54.01</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="ffffcc">
<td><font face="arial" color="red" size="+1">50-56</td>
<td><font face="arial" size="+1"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">OE Handbook</span></td><td><font face="arial" color="red" size="+1">50.01.00 to 56.19.01</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><font face="arial" color="red" size="+1">60-83</td>
<td><font face="arial" size="+1"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Canons of Theodore &nbsp;</span></td><td><font face="arial" color="red" size="+1">60.01.00 to 83.01.01</td></tr>
</table></dir>
The numerical ranges of the texts do not imply textual or historical relationships among or between the texts themselves. <br/>In some manuscripts parts of these texts are found among non-penitential Old English texts that are either devotional or regulatory and possibly related to penitential practice in some way. <br/>Those texts are numbered 90.00.00 and above and in some cases are translated as well as transcribed. Those texts are not included in the glossary. (Examples are found in MSS X, Bx, and N; see below.)</p>
<br/>

       <h3 style="font-size: 20pt; color: #626C9B; font-weight: bold; position: relative; top: -1em; letter-spacing: .10em; width: 100%; border-bottom: double 3px #626C9B; ">Manuscripts</h3>
<p>The five texts listed above are distributed, sometimes in part only, in seven manuscripts. Each manuscript is identified by a siglum or letter:</p><dir>

<table>
<table border="1">
<tr bgcolor="ffffcc">
<td><font face="arial" size="+1" color="red">Siglum</td><td><font face="arial" color="red" size="+1">&nbsp;&nbsp; refers to manuscript:</font></td></tr>
<tr>
<td><font face="arial" size="+1" color="red">B</td><td><font face="arial" size="+1">&nbsp;&nbsp; Brussels, Biblioth&egrave;que royale, 8558-63</font></td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="ffffcc"><td>
<font face="arial" size="+1" color="red">C <td><font face="arial" size="+1">&nbsp;&nbsp; Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, 265</font></td></tr>
<tr><td>
<font face="arial" size="+1" color="red">D <td><font face="arial" size="+1">&nbsp;&nbsp; Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, 201</font></td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="ffffcc"><td>
<font face="arial" size="+1" color="red">N <td><font face="arial" size="+1">&nbsp;&nbsp; London, British Library, Cotton Tiberius A.iii</font></td></tr>
<tr><td><font face="arial" size="+1" color="red">S <td><font face="arial" size="+1">&nbsp;&nbsp; Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, 190, Part B</font></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="ffffcc"><td>
<font face="arial" size="+1" color="red">X <td><font face="arial" size="+1">&nbsp;&nbsp; Oxford, Bodleian Library, Junius 121</font></td></tr>
<tr><td>
<font face="arial" size="+1" color="red">Y <td><font face="arial" size="+1">&nbsp;&nbsp; Oxford, Bodleian Library, Laud Misc. 482 </font></td>
</td></tr>
</table></dir>
<p>
These are the sigla traditionally used to refer to manuscripts B, C, D, N, X, and Y; MS S in the above list is usually represented as O, but in a digital edition this letter posed obvious problems.
</p>
<br/>       <h3 style="font-size: 20pt; color: #626C9B; font-weight: bold; position: relative; top: -1em; letter-spacing: .10em; width: 100%; border-bottom: double 3px #626C9B; ">TAGGING SYSTEM</h3>

<p>The database combines canon numbers (01.01.01) and sigla (BCDNSXY) to form tags.<dir>Example: <span style="font-weight: bold;">S31.01.01</span>:<br/>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">S</span> designates Corpus 190;<br/>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">31</span> designates the <span style="font-weight: bold;">OE Introduction</span>, part 1;<br/>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">01.01</span> indicates the first sentence of part 1; <span style="font-weight: bold;">S31.02.01</span> indicates the second sentence of part 1, and  so on.</span>
<p>Example: <span style="font-weight: bold;">X14.01.01</span><br/>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">X</span> designates Junius 121;<br/>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">14</span> designates the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Scriftboc</span>, chapter 14;<br/>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">01.01</span> indicates the first sentence of this chapter; <span style="font-weight: bold;">X14.02.01</span> the second sentence, and  so on.</dir></p>
</p>
<br/>

       <h3 style="font-size: 20pt; color: #626C9B; font-weight: bold; position: relative; top: -1em; letter-spacing: .10em; width: 100%; border-bottom: double 3px #626C9B; ">Menu options</h3>

<p>
Be sure to begin by reading the Introduction to the database (the front page). Then browse the options outlined below. Several of them will take you to further options.<dir> 
1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">TEXTS</span>: opens a menu listing all five texts. Each text in turn opens a two-part menu: <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Description"</span> tells you what this text is and how it is organized; "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Manuscripts"</span> lists the manuscripts containing the text. You must choose a manuscript to see the text you want to read, you will be taken to the beginning of that text in that manuscript. <br/>
2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">TRANSLATIONS:</span> takes you to a translation of each of the five texts in the database.<br/>
3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">MANUSCRIPTS:</span> opens to the seven manuscripts; each option opens to <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Description"</span> (which tells you about the date, provenance, and texts in each manuscript), and then to <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Manuscript"</span> (which takes you to the first page of penitential content in that manuscript).<br/>
4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">CULTURAL INDEX:</span> The penitentials are rich in cultural connections. At present, twelve topics have been chosen (from a list that will be expanded); when you click on the topic you will see a list of canons containing relevant
material.  Current topics include <span style="font-weight: bold;">Animals</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Children</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Food</span>, and nine others. These indices,
which are based on the translations in this database, are designed to serve as starting points and should not
be regarded as comprehensive.<br/>
5. <span style="font-weight: bold;">BACKGROUND:</span> A description of the form of the penitential and an overview of the history of penance.<br/>
6. <span style="font-weight: bold;">BIBLIOGRAPHY:</span> Editions and studies of penance and penitentials.<br/>
7. <span style="font-weight: bold;">CREDITS.	</span></dir></p>
<p>
Illustrations below show you what to expect.
<center>Illustration 1: TEXTS > CANONS OF THEODORE > MANUSCRIPTS 
</center></br>
<img src="pics/TEXT01.JPG"/></p>
<p>
The CANONS OF THEODORE opens two sets of options. The illustration above shows that when you choose Manuscripts you see the three 
manuscripts of this text. If you click on CORPUS 190--the manuscript in the yellow bar--you will be taken to the first canon of the CANONS OF THEODORE in that manuscript. If instead you choose Description in the purple box, you will see an analysis of the structure and sources of the Canons of Theodore.  Below and to the right is the first page of Corpus 190 containing the CANONS OF THEODORE. </p>
<center>Illustration 2: MANUSCRIPTS > CORPUS 190 
</center></p><img src="pics/cth011.jpg"/><p>
<p>
When you place the cursor on a red numerical tag (e.g., S76.05.04), you are offered three choices:<br/>
&middot; <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Translate canon"</span> (which gives you a translation of this sentence);<br/>
&middot; <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Other options"</span> (which allows you either to see this sentence and its translation or to see the translation alone); and<br/>
&middot; <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Other versions"</span> (which allows you to see all other Old English versions of this canon and to switch to another manuscript containing the canon you are viewing). </p>
<center>Illustration 3: CORPUS 190 > S76.05.04</center><p>



<img src="pics/cth01.jpg"/></p><p>
You will quickly become familiar with these options and how they allow you to move through the database. Here's how they work:
<p>
<center>Illustration 4: <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Translate canon"</span></center></br>
This option gives you a Modern English translation of S76.05.04 and offers two more choices, "Other options" and "View other versions." <p>
<img src="pics/cth02.jpg"/><p>
<p> 
<center>Illustration 5: &middot; <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Other options"</span> </center>
<p>Other options (here showing the OLD ENGLISH INTRODUCTION) lets you choose either Text + Translation or Translation alone. </p><p>
<img src="pics/OTHER.JPG"/><p>
Below you see the Texts + Translation option ("Translation alone" is not illustrated). </p>
<center>Illustration 6: Text + Translation option for S31.041.01</center><p>
<img src="pics/TEXTTRAN.JPG"/><p>
In the illustration above you see Old English text from MS S and a translation based on MS S. </p>
<p>You can also choose "View other versions," which allows you to compare the all manuscript versions of this canon.
<p>
<center>Illustration 7: "View other versions"</center>
<img src="pics/ALLVERS.JPG"/></p>
<p>This option shows you all versions of 31.03.01 that occur in the corpus; within this box you can use View/Hide Canon to remove any version to enable different kinds of comparison. You can also go to any one of these verions by selecting the box in the last row, which will offer you all other versions of that canon in the databse.

</p>
<br/>


       <h3 style="font-size: 20pt; color: #626C9B; font-weight: bold; position: relative; top: -1em; letter-spacing: .10em; width: 100%; border-bottom: double 3px #626C9B; ">Using the database</h3>
<p>Begin with the <span style="font-weight: bold;">TEXTS</span> menu, and take time to become familiar with the five penitential texts and their differences in form and content. For this purpose you will want to read the "Description" of the text you choose. Then, when you decide to look at the text itself, you will have to choose a manuscript version. There are charts in the "Description" that will help you see which manuscripts contain more or less complete versions of the text. You might then want to read the texts in translation using the <span style="font-weight: bold;">TRANSLATION</span> menu, and then become familiar with the manuscripts of the text.
</p>
<p>The numbering system described above enables you to compare the version of the material found in each
manuscript, even when the manuscripts position this material in different ways. For example,
the second chapter of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Scriftboc</span> in MS X is numbered as chapter 4 ("iiii  De laycis quomodo peniteant"). This material forms 
the fourteenth chapter of MS S ("xiiii  L&aelig;wede man him wif agenda...") and the eleventh
chapter
of MS Y. In every manuscript, this material has the same numerical code (02.01.01) and can be
searched by that code, whether it is identified as X02.01.01, S02.01.01, or Y02.01.01. The
numerical codes do not follow the sequence of the manuscripts (many manuscripts contain their
own numbering systems, usually in roman numers, which are of course preserved in the editions). The numerical codes
permit readers, no matter where they are in any of the manuscripts, to compare readings across
manuscripts. 
</p>
<br/>
       <h3 style="font-size: 20pt; color: #626C9B; font-weight: bold; position: relative; top: -1em; letter-spacing: .10em; width: 100%; border-bottom: double 3px #626C9B; ">Goals of the edition</h3>

<p>The Anglo-Saxon penitentials have never been edited in a comprehensive edition. All
previous
editors have selected one manuscript as representative of the best version of a particular text, reconstructed it or emended its readings, and treated the
other manuscripts as variants of it. In contrast, this edition sets the manuscripts of any given text
on equal
footing and presents each version of each text. This has important consequences for the use of this
edition: when you refer any specific canon in the database, you will always be referring to the canon in terms of the manuscript in which it is found; other manuscripts might or might not contain the same
information, and by clicking on the "other versions" option for each canon you will find out instantly what they are and what they say. In this edition each manuscript is regarded as independent testimony to the practice of
penance in the
time and place of the manuscript; readers are free to generalize from the manuscript evidence
but
will, at all times, be aware that they are writing about manuscript evidence rather than an edited
text that might well represent a conflation of evidence from several different manuscripts.</p>
<p>
Manuscript contexts have not traditionally been important in the editorial tradition of the
Anglo-Saxon penitentials. Therefore I have sought to present the Anglo-Saxon penitentials in a
form that
allows readers to understand the text in its contexts and to appreciate the differences in function
that those contexts signal.  No manuscript has been treated merely as a variant of any other or
rearranged to conform to the organization of any other.  </p>


<p>
This edition presents the texts of the Anglo-Saxon penitentials in three different forms, the
first two in Old English:<br/>
1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Text-based</span>, enabling comparisons of all manuscript versions of one of the five
penitentials (a lateral view of the corpus). <br/>
2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Manuscript-based</span>, enabling analysis of each text within its own manuscript, in
the
context of other texts that may or may not be related to penance and confession (a vertical view
of the manuscript).<br/>
3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">In translation</span>, enabling users who do not know Old English to work from translations back to the canons in Old English that interest them. Please note that in most cases only one version of a text (the longest) has been
translated, but shorter versions of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Handbook</span> and the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Canons of
Thedore</span> have been translated where the short-form varies significantly from the longer one.</p>
<p>To see the texts in the first form, click on TEXTS in the main menu; to see them in the second,
click on MANUSCRIPTS; to see them in the third, click on TRANSLATIONS. Each choice will
give you further options: TEXTS will allow you to choose one of five texts; MANUSCRIPTS
will allow you to choose from among seven manuscripts; in TRANSLATIONS you will usually
be offered only one translation of a text.</p>


<br/>


       <h3 style="font-size: 20pt; color: #626C9B; font-weight: bold; position: relative; top: -1em; letter-spacing: .10em; width: 100%; border-bottom: double 3px #626C9B; ">Color codes in texts</h3>
<p>Manuscript colors are preserved where possible. Green, red, orange, and blue initials and rubrics appear in those colors. Old English text appears in black. No attempt has been made to preserve fading, show-through, or similar details. 
<br/>
Glosses and additions appear in <font color="blue">blue.</font><br/>
A word or part of word written over an erasure appears in <font color="teal">teal</font>.<br/>
Words appearing in stained areas appear in <font color="purple">purple</font>.<br/>
Additions and glosses have been placed relative to the Old English text in approximately the same place the occupy in the manuscript. But interlinear glosses cannot be shown between lines, as they appear in the manuscripts. Marginalia placement is also only approximate.<br/>
Tears, holes, and similar defects have been recorded in notes.
</p>


<br/>


       <h3 style="font-size: 20pt; color: #626C9B; font-weight: bold; position: relative; top: -1em; letter-spacing: .10em; width: 100%; border-bottom: double 3px #626C9B; ">Technical notes</h3>
<p>The database runs only in Firefox 1.5 or higher and will not perform well in other browsers.</p>
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